PCB put 2-year ban on spinner Asif Afridi over corruption charges

• PCB suspended Asif Afridi from all forms of cricket for two years.
• Afridi admitted to two violations of the PCB’s Anti-Corruption Code.
• He was handed a two-year period of ineligibility.

Due to allegations of corruption, the Pakistan Cricket Board has suspended Asif Afridi from all forms of cricket for a two-year period.

The 36-year-old admitted to two violations of the PCB’s Anti-Corruption Code for Participants and entered a plea of guilty.

“For the breach of Article 2.4.10, Afridi was handed a two-year period of ineligibility, while he was given a six-month ban for the violation of Article 2.4.4. Both the periods of ineligibility will run concurrently and will commence from the day of his provisional suspension, which commenced on September 12, 2022,” the PCB said in a press release.

“While reaching its determination on the sanction period, the PCB took into consideration the admission of guilt, expression of remorse, past track record and Asif Afridi’s request that the PCB considers his case compassionately, claiming he had unintentionally breached the Code,” it added.

Chairman of the PCB Management Committee Najam Sethi commented on the situation, stating that the board takes a “zero-tolerance policy towards such offences.”

“It gives the PCB no joy to suspend an international cricketer for two years. As the game’s governing body, we need to make examples, handle such matters robustly and send out strong messages to all cricketers,” Sethi added.

“It is bitter fact that corruption poses a threat to our sport as selfish corrupters lure cricketers in different ways and methods. That’s precisely why the PCB has been investing heavily on player education so that they remain vigilant and can help the PCB eradicate this menace by reporting approaches and if, despite all our best efforts to create awareness, a player falls victim to his greed, then the PCB has no sympathy,” the PCB chairman concluded.

Over the course of his career, Afridi has participated in 65 T20 games, 42 List A games, and 35 first-class games.

Also Read

PCB confirmed refs as well as star-studded commentary panel

PSL 2023 will begin on Feb 14. Roshan Mahanama will head a...